Police 'lend Prince Charles £3,000'

Prince Charles borrowed nearly £3,000 from his protection officers for travel expenses, it has been claimed.

According to The Independent, Scotland Yard officers protecting the heir to the throne paid for flights using a Metropolitan Police-issue corporate American Express card.

The money was repaid by Clarence House on December 4, 2007, with the police cashing the cheque later that month.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "On occasion, and if the need arises, protection officers will incur expenditure on behalf of principals, which are then repaid (sic)."

Deputy mayor of London Jenny Jones said: "I definitely did not know this was going on and I am really quite surprised. The Royals should have known this was happening and they really ought to have known better.

"They should not expect the Metropolitan Police to pay for things like flights and then casually pay it back at a later date."

However, former Metropolitan Police protection officer for Princess Diana, Ken Wharfe, said: "It is very rare for members of the Royal Family to carry cash or credit cards so protection officers paying for things is quite a normal practice.

"When I worked with the late Princess Diana I did this on numerous occasions for things like meals at restaurants to hotel bookings."

A spokeswoman for Prince Charles said: "We would not comment on this matter."